Neighborhood conjures Potter party
Upcoming movie, book release has many muggles celebrating
It was the kind of impromptu celebration Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore might have smiled upon.
Harry Potter-themed food, costumes, decorations and games set the stage for a midday party Monday at Jill Olita's home in Naperville's River Run subdivision. The get-together of eight kids and a few helpful adult neighbors wasn't planned until Sunday afternoon, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm, Potter paraphernalia and Harry Potter movies in the Olita's family room.
Danielle Gardner / Staff Photographer
Danielle Gardner / Staff Photographer
• See our special section about all things "Harry Potter."
• Area residents who look like characters from the series share photographs of themselves in costume. See a gallery of their pictures.
• Watch scenes and trailers of the movie "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
• Vote in our poll: What is your favorite Harry Potter book?
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"We're big Harry Potter fans," Jill Olita said, as kids ran around casting a few pretend magic spells with their specially crafted wands, all a nod to the famed adventures of J.K. Rowling's boy wizard.
Two years ago, the family - which includes 6-year-old Connor, 14-year-old Kyle and Jill's husband Jim - hosted a similar bash before the release of the sixth novel, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
They already have their tickets for Wednesday's release of the fifth Potter movie, and a single copy of the much-anticipated seventh tome, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is on reserve for the July 21 release date. And you can bet they'll be attending "The Party that Shall Not be Named" in downtown Naperville the evening before the book's debut.
"My husband and I will fight over it for sure," Olita said.
The children had the chance to dress as their favorite character, eat Harry Potter cupcakes and watch the first movie in the series, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
"I like the big snake," said 4-year-old Emma Guthrie, who was dressed up as character Ginny Weasley and referring to the serpent that plays a crucial role in the second book in the series.
Emma's big brother Jake, 6, said the third book, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," is his favorite, although he followed that declaration with, "When I move to No. 7 I'll like that one."
Jake's first choice? The movie series. And the character of Harry Potter.
"They are just so excited about this," said Alisa Guthrie, Jake and Emma's mother. "I just get caught up in their excitement. It gets them excited about literature as well."
Between posing for pictures featuring Harry's famous black spectacles and drawn-on lightning-shaped scars and a game of throwing the "golden snitch" - a small ball pivotal to the wizarding game of Quidditch - into a plastic cauldron, it was a chance for kids to just have a little fun.
"We're becoming more and more of fans," said Julie Kostka, another River Run resident. "I think its cute. Jill always throws a good party."
Contact Kate Houlihan at khoulihan@scn1.com or 630-416-5224.